The stunning landscape of Bhutan, from snow-capped peaks and pristine forests to sacred caves and mountain lakes, is also home to deities who protect the land. And to appease the deities, different regions have different festivals. One such festival, unique and ancient as the land itself, is Naru or Bja Kam Naru. This ancient traditional...Read More
Zangmo learned to weave watching her mother while still a little girl. Today, the skills she acquired some three decade ago, feeds her entire family. She weaves around two ghos or kiras per week (depending on the orders she receives from customers). And that fetches her around Nu 8,000. For weaving these ancient traditional Bhutanese...Read More
If you ever do visit Bhutan, make it a point to travel to Trongsa. I’ll tell you why but, first, let’s delve into the region called the vanguard of the warriors a bit. The town of Trongsa in central Bhutan is also the capital of the district that goes by the same name. The name...Read More
Bhutanese cuisine is as diverse as its landscape and people. The reason being is that the Bhutanese people have different backgrounds and this multitude is reflected within the country’s cuisine. The different varieties of gastronomic history in the country can be divided along the country’s geographical regions namely – Western, Eastern, Southern and Central. While...Read More
There are a lot of books on Bhutan, written by Bhutanese and non-Bhutanese alike. And while some books capture the Bhutanese way of life in bits and pieces, somehow, they don’t do justice to a kingdom that has but only recently come out of its self imposed isolation. Below is our list of books...Read More
The national dress for women in Bhutan is the kira. It is a rectangular piece of cloth (hand-woven or readymade) that is wrapped around the body and pinned at each shoulder by clasps or brooches called komas. An inner blouse called the wonju and an outer jacket called the tego is worn to complete the...Read More
The current government formed by the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) by a landslide victory in 2013, is keeping good on their word. In the build up to the election, during the campaign period, the PDP had pledged to purchase two helicopters to make life easier for cut-off communities in regard to medical evacuations besides fire...Read More
A knee-length robe or the gho – tied at the waist by a hand woven cloth belt known as the kera – is the national dress for men in Bhutan. It was introduced in the 17th century by Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal and has ever since been a distinctive feature for the Bhutanese. But, while it...Read More
Paro is undoubtedly one among the most developed dzongkhags in the country. Situated in perhaps the widest valley in the kingdom, it is covered in fertile rice fields, and the charming town itself lies on the banks of the Paro Chhu meandering down the picturesque region. The main town street – built and paved only...Read More
Whoever said the game of archery is boring, should think again. In Bhutan, under the surface and away from the archery match, there’s plenty happening. From divine interventions and coercions to casting spells and witty barbs, everything is permissible. The national sport of Bhutan is culturally distinctive because it is a martial sport and echoes...Read More
